Territory



(No' Model.)

M. B. RUNYAN. WHIPPLBTRBB GOUPLING.

Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT @Erica MILO BAXTER RUNYAN, OE FORT RUEORD, DAKOTA TERRITORY', Ass-TGNOR To HiMsELE AND RLANTON o. wELsH, U. s. A.

wHl FFLETREE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,988, dated November 8, 1887.

Appnafion med Ju1y2s, iss?.

To @ZZ whom it may concern: y

Be it known that 1, MILO BAXTER RUNYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Buford, in the county of Buford and Territory of Dakota, have invented certain new and usefulmprovernents in Whilietree Couplings, of which the following is aspecitication.

This invent-ion relates to a whitiletree-coup` ling for connecting either a singletree, a doubletree, or a trebletre'e to a vehicle-pole.

The object of the invention is to provide a safety whiftletree-coupling in which the wagonharnrner77 or pivot-bolt will be locked against accidental displacement, and in which the whiiiietree will be retained in position in case the pivot-bolt should break.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of this improved whiffletreecoupling. Fig. 2 represents a vehicle-pole and a whiflietree connected by this improved coupling. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different iigures.

The vehiclepole' 5 and the whiflietree 6 are of any ordinary construction. The coupling for connecting these parts comprises aplate, 7, attached to the pole, a bow or strap, 8, detachably connected to the plate 7, and a spindle, 9, having its bearings in said strap and plate and passing through the whifiietree.

The plate 7 isprovided with holes 10, through which bolts or screws 11 are passed for attaching it to the vehicle-pole, and preferably at its rear end with a rabbet, 12, the rabbeted end lapping under the ordinary T- iron, 13, used to strengthen the joint between the pole proper and its cross-bar. This plate 7 has a socketor step-bearing, 14, near its center,for the lower end of the spindle 9, perforated ears 15, near its front end, recessed ears 16,nearits rear end, and a slot,17,between the ears. The central portion of the plate having the socket 14 is increased in breadth by flanges 18, so that the plate will not be weakened by the socket. A raised annular rib, 19, surrounds the socket-hole 14 on the vplate 7.

Serial No. 245,540. (No model.)

The strap 8, which takes the place of the ordinary hammer-strap,77 is elongated into the form of a bow and is provided at one end with an eye, 20, which fits between the perforated ears 15, and a bolt, 21, passed through said ears and eye, serves to fasten the frontend of said strap to the plate 7. The bolt 21 is provided with a slot, 22, through which an ordinary or spring key, 31, is passed for retaining the bolt in its place. The strap 8 is provided at its rear end with a T-shaped tongue, 23, which interlocks with the recessed ears 16 of the plate 7. This strap is also provided about the center of its length, opposite the socket 14 of the plate 7, with a socket, 24, for the upper end of the spindle 9.

The body of the spindle 9, which takes the place of the ordinary wagon-hammer, is preferably angular or square in cross-section, and is provided at its opposite ends with journals or pivots 25 26, which have their bearings in the sockets 14 and 24, respectively, of the plate 7 and strap 8. Thepivots being smaller in diamater than the body of the spindle, a shoulder, 27, is formed between the body of the spindle and the upper pivot, 25, which shoulder, coming in contact with the strap 8, prevents the spindle from being thrown or jarred upward out ofplace. This spindle is also providedv with a flange, 28, at the lower end of its body above the lower pivot, which flange rests on the rib 19 around the socket 14. The spindle 9 is passed through the whiiltletree,and the flange 28 is provided with screwholes 29, by which the spindle is securely fastened to the whiffletree.

In assembling' the parts the spindle 9 is passed through and secured to the whiltletree. The strap 8 is turned at right angles to the plate 7, and the T-shaped tongue 23 is passed down between the recessed ears 16 and through the slot 17 into the slot 30 in the body of the pole until the cross-bar of the tongue is below the body of the plate. The strap is then dle 9 is then passed under the strap S and the pivot 25 of said spindle inserted iu the socket 24 of the strap. The whiiiletree and strap are then lowered and the pivot 2G of the spindle inserted in the socket 14 of the plate and the eye 20 of the strap passed between the perforated ears 15 of thc plate and secured in position by the bolt 21.

Then the parts are separated,the whiii'letree is preferably raised with the strap to avoid binding.

In this improved Coupling the wagonliamnier is locked in position against accidental displacement, and it serves to brace the hainmerstrap.

I claiml. The combination of the plate for attachment to the pole, provided with recessed ears and a slot at one end, perforated ears at the opposite end, and an intermediate socket, a bow-shaped strap having a T-shaped tongue at one end, an eye at the other, and an intermediate socket, and a spindle for the whiillctree, )rovided with reduced pivots atits opposite ends having their bearings in said sockets, substantially as described.

2. rlhe combination of the plate for attachment to the pole, provided with recessed ears and a slot at one end, perforated ears at the opposite end, and an intermediate socket, a bow-shaped strap having a T-shaped tongue at one end, an eye at the other, and an inten mediate socket, and a spindle for the whiiiletree,provided with reduced pivots at its opposite ends having their bearings in said sockets, said spindle having a ilange for attachnient to the whiilctree, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a pole-plate and strap, of a whiilletreespindle having pivots at its opposite ends, and a [lange integral with the spindle for attaching the latter to the whiilietree, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a pole-plate provided with an elongated slot and with outwardly-projeeting ears on opposite sides of said slot, said ears having recesses open at the inside of the plate, of a strap provided at one end with a T-shaped tongue which is passed through said elongated slot and into said reeesses for engaging said ears, and means for connecting the opposite end of said strap to the poleplate, snhstantiall y as described.

MIL() BAXTER vUNY/N.

Witnesses:

B. C WELSH, D. R. BURNHAM. 

